KEIGHLEY Cougars crashed to a disappointing 20-6 defeat at London Skolars last Friday in Betfred League One, but head coach Craig Lingard admitted that having a threadbare squad made life very difficult for the visitors.

Cougars only had 16 players available, with half of those stuck in traffic until just before kick-off. Dan Parker and Billy Gaylor had to play as half-backs too, as the only recognised player in that position, Benn Hardcastle, was away on his honeymoon.

Lingard lamented the problems his side have faced, both against Skolars and in the second half of the 2018 season in general.

He said: "We had a back row in the centre, a middle in the back row, and a host of players out of position on Friday night.

"Not having any half backs is a massive hindrance too. Catalans Dragons only won two of their first 11 league games without any. They signed a couple, made the Super Eights and won the Challenge Cup.

"We've had to completely revamp our attack since we lost all those players in summer. Only York and Bradford had scored more points than us before the crisis.

"Now we have to play in a particular way. There's a lack of shape and no direction in the middle. It's not pretty but we have to work with what we've got."

Lingard admitted it "doesn't get any tougher" than Cougars' next game, away to Bradford Bulls. However, he hopes his side can at least compete in the Odsal clash.

He will also be able to welcome back Brad Nicholson. The prop forward has been absent since receiving an eight-game ban for his conduct against York City Knights in June.

The head coach said: "Brad is a key player for us and he'll bring that enthusiasm and energy we've been missing. He's got a lot of good skill and footwork so he's not your typical prop forward.

"We'll hopefully be able to welcome back a few others for Bradford, like Cameron Leeming, but Davey Dixon is out for the season with a rib injury and we'll have to see how Dan Parker is after the knee injury he picked up against Skolars.

"If he's out, we'll have to try out another completely new half back, as Benn still won't be available."

Lingard was honest, and confessed that he was already looking ahead to 2019, saying: "We've got one eye on this season and one on next season.

"We have to concentrate on each game but we're not going to be in the top five or six for the playoffs either, so we have to look ahead.

"Our budget's been reduced so we've got to offer our existing players less, and whether they'll be happy with that, I don't know. We will lose players but we should get new ones in, so there may be a revamp for 2019.

"Obviously we need to get half backs in for some strength in depth there but there's already been plenty of internal and external discussion about next season's squad."